Development and Assessment of Chinese General Quality of Life Instrument

Abstract:

The measurements of quality of life have been increasingly studied and gradually accepted as an important measure of health in many countries of the world since the 1960s. In China, quality of life studies begun in the 1980s. A few general quality of life questionnaires were translated into the Chinese language, such as 100-Item World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHO-QOL-100) and the 36-Item Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Status Survey (SF-36). However, the sensitivity of the WHO-QOL-100 was not satisfactory for the Chinese population, while the SF-36 focused on measuring health status and does not include all facets of quality of life. Considering the great differences in culture and living habits between eastern and western populations, we carried out a series of studies to develop a general quality of life instrument (Chinese QOL-35), which included 35 items and is well in accordance with the habits of Chinese language, culture, and daily life. This article presents the development and evaluation of the Chinese QOL-35 with its reliability, validity and sensitivity, in comparison with Chinese version of WHO-QOL-100 and SF-36.

Keywords

Life Score Total Quality Life Instrument Environmental Domain Answer Option

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Notes

Acknowledgment

We are very grateful to Ms. Naomi Hammond at The George Institute, China for her kind help and assistance in preparation of the manuscript.

Appendix 1: Chinese Quality of Life 35-Items Questionnaire

This questionnaire is used to understand your quality of life and health status in the last month. Please read carefully each question then answer it according to your actual situation and feelings by filling your chosen number in the subsequent blank square.

1. Generally speaking, how about your health status during the last month?

HQ1□

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3=average; 4=good; 5=very good

2. Generally speaking, how about your quality of life during the last month?

HQ2□

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3=average; 4=good; 5=very good

3. Compared to a year ago, how would you rate your quality of life now?

QT□

1=Much worse

4=somewhat better

2=Somewhat worse

5=much better

3=About the same

4. Did you have any difficulties in conducting the following activities during the last month,if so, how much?

About this entry

Cite this entry as:

Wu Y., Xie G. (2010) Development and Assessment of Chinese General Quality of Life Instrument. In: Preedy V.R., Watson R.R. (eds) Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures. Springer, New York, NY